AIRLINE WAS URGED TO REPLACE PART

Eastern Airlines was urged by the Boeing Co. 10 years ago to replace the crucial section of the landing gear that apparently failed aboard a Fort Lauderdale-bound Eastern 727 Sunday, forcing the jet to crash-land on its nose.

Investigators are trying to determine whether the part was ever actually replaced, according to the airline, the manufacturer and federal authorities.

Several passengers were injured during the incident at Miami International Airport, and two were hospitalized, contrary to previous reports from Eastern and federal investigators.

The airline said the crash landing was caused when a metal part broke and locked the landing gear closed. "It's not an entirely unusual experience and not unique to Eastern," said Jerry Cosley, an Eastern Airlines senior vice president and spokesman.

He said the part will be replaced with one "made of stronger material."

But Boeing spokesman Tom Cole in Seattle said the manufacturer urged operators of 727s, including Eastern, to replace that section with a stronger substitute 10 years ago. "This new part has been available since 1976," Cole said.

Neither Boeing nor Eastern had determined Monday if the section was replaced at the time. Compliance with bulletins like the one from Boeing is voluntary.

The aircraft that crash-landed had been affected three times in the past year by engine problems -- on Jan. 7, Feb. 26 and March 26, 1985 -- according to Federal Aviation Administration records.

Flight 757 from New York landed on its nose and scraped along the runway at 12:15 a.m. Sunday in Miami, where the plane had been diverted when its landing gear wouldn't open as it approached Fort Lauderdale. Eastern has its largest maintenance facility at Miami International Airport.

The airline said Sunday there were no injuries in the landing and an emergency evacuation on the runway of the 139 passengers and crew, but on Monday, Cosley and several passengers said there were minor injuries treated later in a terminal by paramedics. Cosley said he had not been told that anyone was hospitalized.

But two passengers were taken to Hialeah Hospital, the hospital confirmed. Barbara Mangone of New York suffered a sprained foot and the other, Henry Nigron of New York, was treated for torn ligaments. Both had jumped from the wing.

The FAA, National Transportation Safety Board and Boeing are all investigating the incident. Cosley said the 727 will be returned to service by Wednesday.